The National Air and Space Museum commemorates the history of flight and educates and inspires people through its collections, exhibitions, research, and programs related to aviation, space flight, and planetary studies.

HIGHLIGHTED TOPIC:

Rocket engine, Turbopump and Accessories, V-2

The V-2 engine turbopump and steam generator assembly drew the propellants--liquid oxygen and alcohol--from the missile's tanks and injected them under pressure into the combustion chamber. At a thrust of 25 metric tons (about 56,000 lb), the V-2 was the world's first large liquid-propellant rocket engine, a groundbreaking historical accomplishment. It was also the first large pumped rocket engine, following on earlier experiments in Germany. The turbopump moved approx. 4200 kg (9200 lb) of water alcohol and 5500 kg (12,200 lb) of liquid oxygen from the tanks to the engine during the 60-second burning time. Driving the turbopump was the steam generator, which used hydrogen peroxide mixed with a catalyst. Those liquids were forced into a mixing chamber by compressed air.

These artifacts are a gift of the Thiokol Chemical Corporation, inherited from Reaction Motors Inc., which had acquired them for post-World War II testing.

The V-2 engine turbopump and steam generator assembly drew the propellants--liquid oxygen and alcohol--from the missile's tanks and injected them under pressure into the combustion chamber. At a thrust of 25 metric tons (about 56,000 lb), the V-2 was the world's first large liquid-propellant rocket engine, a groundbreaking historical accomplishment. It was also the first large pumped rocket engine, following on earlier experiments in Germany. The turbopump moved approx. 4200 kg (9200 lb) of water alcohol and 5500 kg (12,200 lb) of liquid oxygen from the tanks to the engine during the 60-second burning time. Driving the turbopump was the steam generator, which used hydrogen peroxide mixed with a catalyst. Those liquids were forced into a mixing chamber by compressed air.

These artifacts are a gift of the Thiokol Chemical Corporation, inherited from Reaction Motors Inc., which had acquired them for post-World War II testing.